To link to the entire object, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed the entire object, paste this HTML in websiteTo link to this page, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed this page, paste this HTML in website

Michael F. Easley
Governor
State of North Carolina
Office of the Governor
Governor's Press Office
State Capitol, Raleigh, NC 27603-8001
(919) 733-5612 - Toll Free 1-800-662-7005
FAX (919) 733-5166
For Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Seth Effron
Date: September 28, 2006 Phone: 919/733-5612
GOV. EASLEY ANNOUNCES MAJOR RECOGNITION FOR N.C. BUSINESS CLIMATE
RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley today announced several key rankings that provide further proof North Carolina continues to be a global leader in economic development. The Milken Institute listed three North Carolina public and two private universities among the top 100 in the world in ability to move biotech research into business start-up. The Silicon Valley Leadership Group and editors at Forbes.com both recently ranked areas of North Carolina among the best for technology. Also, Entrepreneur magazine placed Charlotte and the Triangle among the top three best places to start and grow a company.
"North Carolina continues to earn these kinds of accolades because of our emphasis on top-quality education, worker training and infrastructure," Easley said. "Providing a workforce with the knowledge, talent and skill employers need to compete in the global economy brings high quality jobs to hard working North Carolina families. It is no surprise that since 2001, our state has successfully recruited more than 163,400 jobs and $26.2 billion in investment."
The Milken Institute of Santa Monica, Calif. found that universities are increasingly the places where the potential for biotech businesses is born and it is critical for academic institutions to move research into business applications. Among the state’s public institutions, North Carolina State University ranked 20th in the world while UNC-Chapel Hill ranked 25th and East Carolina University ranked 81st. Among North Carolina private institutions, Duke University ranked 38th and Wake Forest ranked 59th. More information on the Milken Institute rankings can be found at:www.milkeninstitute.org.
The Silicon Valley Leadership Group, a public policy advocacy organization in San Jose, Calif., named the Raleigh-Durham area as the top technology hub in the nation in its annual ranking. Silicon Valley placed last among the 12 tech centers rated in the report because of its traffic congestion, high unemployment and expensive housing costs. By contrast, the report noted the Triangle’s affordable housing and thriving job market. The region also scored points for local student performance on eighth-grade math tests, comparatively low taxes and affordable utilities.
Raleigh placed fifth in Forbes.com’s list of Most Wired Cities with Charlotte coming in 10th. Raleigh ranked behind Atlanta, Orlando, San Francisco and Seattle and ahead of Miami, Tampa, San Diego and Phoenix. Both Raleigh and Charlotte received high marks for the number of companies providing high-speed Internet access and the percentage of homes with high-speed Internet connections. Forbes.com is the online version of the national business magazine Forbes. The article about America’s Most Wired Cities can be found at: www.forbes.com/2006/08/30/wireless-wired-broadband_cx_df_0831wiredcities.html
The Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte areas are also two of the hottest locations for entrepreneurs, according to Entrepreneur magazine. The Charlotte-Gastonia region placed second on the magazine’s list of best places to

Michael F. Easley
Governor
State of North Carolina
Office of the Governor
Governor's Press Office
State Capitol, Raleigh, NC 27603-8001
(919) 733-5612 - Toll Free 1-800-662-7005
FAX (919) 733-5166
For Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Seth Effron
Date: September 28, 2006 Phone: 919/733-5612
GOV. EASLEY ANNOUNCES MAJOR RECOGNITION FOR N.C. BUSINESS CLIMATE
RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley today announced several key rankings that provide further proof North Carolina continues to be a global leader in economic development. The Milken Institute listed three North Carolina public and two private universities among the top 100 in the world in ability to move biotech research into business start-up. The Silicon Valley Leadership Group and editors at Forbes.com both recently ranked areas of North Carolina among the best for technology. Also, Entrepreneur magazine placed Charlotte and the Triangle among the top three best places to start and grow a company.
"North Carolina continues to earn these kinds of accolades because of our emphasis on top-quality education, worker training and infrastructure," Easley said. "Providing a workforce with the knowledge, talent and skill employers need to compete in the global economy brings high quality jobs to hard working North Carolina families. It is no surprise that since 2001, our state has successfully recruited more than 163,400 jobs and $26.2 billion in investment."
The Milken Institute of Santa Monica, Calif. found that universities are increasingly the places where the potential for biotech businesses is born and it is critical for academic institutions to move research into business applications. Among the state’s public institutions, North Carolina State University ranked 20th in the world while UNC-Chapel Hill ranked 25th and East Carolina University ranked 81st. Among North Carolina private institutions, Duke University ranked 38th and Wake Forest ranked 59th. More information on the Milken Institute rankings can be found at:www.milkeninstitute.org.
The Silicon Valley Leadership Group, a public policy advocacy organization in San Jose, Calif., named the Raleigh-Durham area as the top technology hub in the nation in its annual ranking. Silicon Valley placed last among the 12 tech centers rated in the report because of its traffic congestion, high unemployment and expensive housing costs. By contrast, the report noted the Triangle’s affordable housing and thriving job market. The region also scored points for local student performance on eighth-grade math tests, comparatively low taxes and affordable utilities.
Raleigh placed fifth in Forbes.com’s list of Most Wired Cities with Charlotte coming in 10th. Raleigh ranked behind Atlanta, Orlando, San Francisco and Seattle and ahead of Miami, Tampa, San Diego and Phoenix. Both Raleigh and Charlotte received high marks for the number of companies providing high-speed Internet access and the percentage of homes with high-speed Internet connections. Forbes.com is the online version of the national business magazine Forbes. The article about America’s Most Wired Cities can be found at: www.forbes.com/2006/08/30/wireless-wired-broadband_cx_df_0831wiredcities.html
The Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte areas are also two of the hottest locations for entrepreneurs, according to Entrepreneur magazine. The Charlotte-Gastonia region placed second on the magazine’s list of best places to